Programs & Services > Families in Transition > Coping with change > Separation and divorce
Separation and divorce (groups and seminars)
Groups and seminars list:
- Separation and Divorce: What about my children?
- It's Different Now: The Young Adult's Point of View
- Successful Parenting Plans
- Coping with Life: The Child's Perspective
- Child Support: New Guidelines
- Angry Forever
- Supporting Child Adjustment to Separation and Divorce
- Do I Still Have Two Parents?
Program location:
Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at Families in Transition offices: Lawrence Square Mall, 700 Lawrence Avenue West, Suite 420 A.
SEPARATION AND DIVORCE: WHAT ABOUT MY CHILDREN? (single session)
When parents part, there are short and longer term consequences for
children. Participants discuss how children react when parents decide
to live apart and strategies for responding to their issues and questions.
Topics include:
- The influence of age and developmental stage
- Role of attachment and bonding
- Understanding loss from the child’s perspective
- Strategies for meeting children’s needs
Date: Monday, March 3
Repeats: May 12, July
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Fees: $35
IT'S DIFFERENT NOW: THE YOUNG ADULT'S POINT OF VIEW
This 6-session group offers young adults from 14 to 17 years an opportunity to discuss the impact of separation, divorce and remarriage from their unique perspective.
Topics include:
- Maintaining relationships with both parents
- Changing responsibilities and expectations
- Problem solving
For information concerning dates and registration please contact 416.585.9151.
SUCCESSFUL PARENTING PLANS (single session)
Planning how to care for children after separation can be a confusing and difficult task. Participants discuss questions and issues that influence the development of successful plans:
- What is a parenting plan?
- Why is a plan important?
- Are there different types of plans?
- What should be included in your plan?
- Children's needs and parents' issues
- Steps for creating a successful plan
Date:Tuesday, February 12
Repeats: March 11, April 29, June 10, August 12
Time: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Fees: $50
Participation in this program is a prerequisite for mediation at FIT.
COPING WITH LIFE: THE CHILD'S PERSPECTIVE
A 6-session series of groups for children (4-12), adolescents (13-16), and groups for their parents. Children share feelings, expectations and attitudes towards separation with peers. Parents' groups focus on helping children to adjust to the changing circumstances. A follow-up family interview is included.
Series 1: January 21 – March 1
Series 2: April 28 – June 14
Series 3: October 2008
There are separate Saturday groups for pre-schoolers, school age children and adolescents. Parent groups are held on weekday evenings. A 4-session group for parents' new partners, addressing child adjustment issues, usually follows each series. Topics include roles, relationships and expectations.
Fees: Upon request
An initial interview is required.
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES (single session)
Child support is based on legislated government guidelines. In this single session participants learn about the historic development of the guidelines; their legislated objectives and how the table amounts were determined. Through a combination of leader presentation and group discussion, participants develop a general understanding of how basic child support is calculated and permitted additional expenses. Parents who are payers and those who are recipients gain a general understanding of how the child support guidelines apply to their family situation.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
- Entitlements and obligations regarding child support
- Child support and the coparental relationship
- Basic monthly child support amounts
- Special expenses
- Private agreements
- Taxation of child support
- Varying a child support arrangement
- Enforcement of child support orders and agreements
Date: Thursday, March 27
Repeats: April 22, 4:00-6:00 p.m.,
June 23
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Fees: $35
ANGRY FOREVER ?
The Challenge of Moving On (single session)
When relationships end there is often disappointment and anger, particularly if one parent feels betrayed or rejected. In this seminar, participants will discuss the impact of these feelings and the factors that help parents look to the future and influence one's ability to move on. The steps involved in moving from anger to acceptance will be discussed.
Topics include:
- The impact of living with pain and anger
- Is there a role for forgiveness?
- Acceptance as an alternative to forgiveness
- Practical strategies for moving from anger to acceptance
Date: Thursday, February 21
Repeats: May 22, July
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Fees: $35
SUPPORTING CHILD ADJUSTMENT TO SEPARATION AND DIVORCE (single session)
Participants discuss how parents can help children cope with separation and divorce.
Topics include:
- Divorce from the child's perspective
- Factors affecting how children cope with separation and divorce
- Strategies for supporting child adjustment
Date: Monday, April 14
Repeats: June 16, August 11
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Fees: $35
DO I STILL HAVE TWO PARENTS?
When children do not have contact with one parent, adjusting to separation and divorce presents special challenges. This 5-session program addresses the feelings of abandonment, loss and responsibility experienced by children coping with this situation. Parents meet as a group to discuss how children grieve and ways of helping them cope with their loss.
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Fees: Upon request
For information concerning dates and registration please contact 416.585.9151.
FIT programs description and schedule of seminars:
- Let's talk about ... (seminar series)
- Separation and divorce (groups)
- Single parenting (groups)
- Remarriage (groups)
To arrange for counselling, please call our Service Access Unit, Tel: 416.595.9618
